Filipino workers in GCC send record $4.5B in remittances by September 2025

Saudi Arabia and the UAE fuel a $4.5B surge in remittances—lifelines for families back home. Why this steady growth matters for the **Philippines**’ economy.

, and Administrator

2025 November 19 . 5:18 AM

1 min read

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Filipino workers in GCC send record $4.5B in remittances by September 2025

Remittances from Filipino workers in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries climbed by 6.03 percent in the first nine months of 2025. The total reached US$4.5 billion, reflecting steady growth across the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates led as the top sources of these funds.

Saudi Arabia remained the largest contributor, sending approximately US$1.66 billion back to the Philippines. The United Arab Emirates followed closely with US$1.16 billion, marking the highest growth rate among GCC nations at 8.09 percent. Kuwait also saw an increase, with remittances rising by 4.71 percent to US$453.04 million.

Globally, Filipino workers sent US$26.03 billion home from January to September 2025. GCC countries accounted for 17.30 percent of this total. Within the Middle East, they made up 96.67 percent of all remittances, while in Asia, their share stood at 42.92 percent.

Among the GCC nations, Bahrain recorded the lowest remittance figure at US$201.20 million. Oman had the slowest growth, with a modest rise of just 1.85 percent.

The data highlights the continued importance of GCC countries as a key source of remittances for the Philippines. With Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading in both volume and growth, these funds remain a significant part of the country’s financial inflows. The figures also underscore the strong economic ties between Filipino workers and the Gulf region.